Falcons advance in NACC Tournament

PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Concordia Wisconsin had a trio of players score at least 20 points, committed just nine turnovers and was highly efficient at the free throw line during a 99-85 victory at Lakeland on Tuesday night during a NACC Tournament first round game.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 99, Lakeland 85
Location: Woltzen Gymnasium (Plymouth, Wis.)
Records: Concordia Wisconsin 14-11, Lakeland 16-9

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Concordia Wisconsin has been the best free throw shooting team in the NACC all season and it was evident down the stretch, as they made 12-consecutive free throws over the final two minutes and 35 seconds to hold on to a double-digit lead.
- The Falcons scored 45 points in the paint and shot over 50 percent in each half during an efficient offensive performance. What they needed to do entering the game was value the basketball – they did with nine turnovers – and defend – which they did by limiting the Muskies to 38.4 percent from the floor.
- Lakeland got within two points with 7:13 to play in the game, but Jake Jurss and Josh Hau answered with four-straight 3-pointers. During the quick 12-3 scoring run, Jurss drained three long balls of his own.
- Freshman Jordan Johnson (Cedarburg, Wis.) has been playing well as of late and ended with his fourth double-double in the last six games. He had a career-high-tying 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting and grabbed a career-best 13 rebounds.
- Junior Andrew Fratzke (Winona, Minn.) recorded a career-high-tying 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals, while Hau (junior, Slinger, Wis.) tallied 20 points (8-of-8 free throws) and six rebounds.
- Jurss (junior, Sheboygan, Wis.) accumulated 19 points, five rebounds, seven assists and two steals.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- It was the first time the Falcons had three players score at least 20 points in a game since February 8, 2014 when Mitchell Schneider, Luke Doedens and Brian Jackson did it against Lakeland.
- Concordia Wisconsin had a 45-32 lead in points in the paint, 26-7 advantage in bench production, scored 19 points off nine offensive rebounds and forced seven turnovers that were converted into 13 points.
- Hau was perfect at the free throw line for the fourth time in his career (minimum eight attempts).
- The Falcons 92.3 percent (24-of-26) at the free throw line is tied for the ninth best showing in a game in program history.

THE OPPOSITION
- Pat McDonald led the Muskies with 20 points, six rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
- Shakur Jinad ended with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Carlos Campos and Eric Nygaard each scored 13 points. Nygaard also pulled down 10 rebounds (eight offensive) off the bench.. Zach Hasenstein finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
- Concordia Wisconsin will next play against Benedictine in a matchup of the fifth vs second seed. The game will be played at Aurora, who is the top-seed and host of both semifinal games.